Nomos AG
Auction 21 21 Nov 2020
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BYZANTINE SEALS. Basil, spatharocandidatos, chartularios of the genikon and symponos, first half of the 11th century. Seal or Bulla (Lead, 35 mm, 26.99 g, 6 h). Manus Dei downwards within a border composed of a circle of large pellets within two concentric circles of smaller pellets. Rev. –✣– / RΑCΙΛ / CΠΑΘΑΡ′Κ / ΔΔ′SΧΑΡ /Τ′ΤΓ′S / CVΜΠ / –✣– (=Βασίλειος σπαθαροκανδιδὰτος καὶ χαρτουλάριος τοῡ γενικοὺ και σύμπονος). Unpublished, save for its previous auction appearance. Clear and with a fine dark grey patina. Extremely fine.
From the APCW Collection, USA, and from that of the late George Zacos, Spink 127, 7 October 1998, 63.
The Basil whose seal this was had the honorary title of Spatharocandidatos, which made him a middle ranking Byzantine courtier of the 7th-11th century (it was formed by combining the titles of two types of palace guards, the spatharios and the kandidatos). He was a high official of the general financial ministry (chartularios tou genikou) and the senior aide, symponos, to the Eparch or Urban Prefect of Constantinople. The fact that he chose a manus dei for his type is quite extraordinary: normally it is only found crowning an imperial figure.
From the APCW Collection, USA, and from that of the late George Zacos, Spink 127, 7 October 1998, 63.
The Basil whose seal this was had the honorary title of Spatharocandidatos, which made him a middle ranking Byzantine courtier of the 7th-11th century (it was formed by combining the titles of two types of palace guards, the spatharios and the kandidatos). He was a high official of the general financial ministry (chartularios tou genikou) and the senior aide, symponos, to the Eparch or Urban Prefect of Constantinople. The fact that he chose a manus dei for his type is quite extraordinary: normally it is only found crowning an imperial figure.